Button-hole cutter



(No Model.)

' D. S. SMITH.

BUTTON HOLE CUTTER.

No. 259,430. Patented June 13, 1882.

. Merv/Z02:

Witnesses ja /9 22 7 NI-TED STATES DANIEL S. SMITH, OF ROUKLAND, ASSIGNOR. OF ONE-HALF TO MARIA W.

THAYER, OFBOSTOIJ, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUTTON-HOLE CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 259,430, dated June 13, 1882,

Application filed March 31, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL S, SMITH, of Rock'land, county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Button-Hole Cutters, of which the following description,in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to a'button-liole cutter for boots and shoes, and has for its object to produce an apparatus by which the buttonholes may be cut at proper distances and in proper position relative to one another in the uppers of different sizes.

The apparatus consists essentiallyof a bedplate, upon which the upper to be operated upon may be laid and its position properly gaged, in combination with. a platen containing a gang or series of cutting-dies arranged in proper position, by which all the buttonholes in a single upper or pile of two or more uppers can be cut simultaneously at a single descent of the said platen. The button-hole flap or portion of the upper in which the button-holes are situated is curved, and the slotted portions of the button-holes are not parallel with one another, but lie in radial lines toward the center of the said curve. The platen employed in this apparatus has a die-holding portion of substantially the same curvature as the portion of the upper to be punched or provided with button holes, and the dies are made adjustable in slots in the said platen or a die-holding plate connected therewith, so that they can be moved in and out radially to properly act upon the uppers of different-sized shoes. The dies are shown as provided with stems passing through radial slots in the (lieholding plate, and acted upon by springs to produce sufficient friction to retain the said dies in whatever position they maybe placed, and, in addition to the holding-power of the said springs, holding devices may be employed to positively govern or determine the position of the dies in the plate.

Figure 1 is a top view of a button-hole-cutting machine embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the lower portion of the apparatus, showing the treadle by which the platen is operated in this instance; and Fig. 4, an under side view of a portion of the die-holding plate and one of the dies provided with a positive locking device for controlling its position.

The bed-plate a, of suitable size and material to hold the uppers while being cut, is provided with adjustable gages b, to act upon the edge of the leather being out and hold it in proper position relative to the dies 0. The latter are mounted in a die-carrying plate, cl, adjustably held in guides c of the platen f, as by the set-screws g. The said platen f is connected with or forms part of a yoke, h, extended down below the bed-plate c, and guided thereby in its reciprocating movements at 2,

the said yoke also having a guide, i, co-operating with a pin, 9', upon the supporting-standard k of the apparatus. The said yoke h and platen f are connected by a link, at, with a treadle, a, (see Fig. 3,) or other means for depressing the said platen and connected dies 0, the springs serving in this instance to elevate the said platen as soon as the actuated pressure is removed from the treadle m.

The dies 0 are provided with screw-threaded stems c passing through slots 3 in the dieplate (I, and may be adjusted by nuts 0 at the under side of the said slots to bring their cutting-edges on the same level, so that all will penetrate the leather and reach the bed-plate c together. The slots 3 in the die-plate cl are made radial to its curvature, which is substantially like that of the button-hole pieces to be out, so that when the dies 0 are moved longitudinally therein they all will still have the same relative position to one another, although they be nearer or farther apart, according as they are nearer the inner or outer edge of the said plate, so that by moving the said die in the said slots the button-holes may be brought nearer together to act upon the smaller-sized button-hole piece without disturbing the uniformity of spacing between the said buttonholes. The stems c of the dies are shown in this instance as provided with washers 1) resting upon the upper side of the die-plate d, opposite to the nuts 0, and springs surrounding the stems c are pressed uponthe said washers p by nuts 2., so that the dies are retained in any position in the slots 0 by the friction of the nuts 0 and washers produced by the pressure of the springs r. This will generally be sufficient to retain the dies 0 in proper position when once properly adjusted in the slot 3; but, if desired, the said dies may be positively prevented from rotating or longitudinal movement in the slots 3 by holding devices a, shown as arms looked upon the said dies between the pairs of nuts 0, the said arms being provided with a series of holes, 5, (see Fig. 4,) to engage studs 1) on the under side of the die-plate d. When desired to change the position of the dies to out different sizes the arms u can be sprung downward, or the entire die depressed into the spring '2- sufticiently to disengage the said arm a from the stud a, after which it may be moved until another one of the holes 5 is brought into engagement with the said stud 1*, thus locking the die in any position.

It is obvious that the die-plate (Z and platen f might be made in one piece; but it is preferable to have them made separate, as shown, such construction affording greater facility of adjustment.

The downward movement of the platen may be limited by adjustable stops to (see Fig. 2) to prevent the dies from injuring the bed-plate.

Instead of the holes 5 in the arms a, the said arms may be provided with a continuous slot,

which, by its engagement with the stud a, will prevent rotary movement of the die, although not positively preventing its longitudinal movement in the slot.

I claim- 1. The bed-plate to receive the leather being cut, combined with the platen and die-holding plate adj ustably connected therewith, and provided with a series of dies independently adjustable in the said plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The die-plate curved to correspond with leather being out, provided with a series of dies adjustable in lines substantially radial to the curvature of the said plate, the said dies being frictionally held in adjusted position in the said slots, whereby pieces of different sizes, but similar shaped, may be perforated with button-holes uniformly spaced, substantially as described.

3. The die-plate provided with a series of slots, combined with the dies, provided with stems passing through the said slots, and springs to retain the said. dies in adjusted position until positively moved therefrom, substantially as described.

4. The die-plates provided with slots, combined with a series of dies movable in the said slots, and holding-arms rigidly connected to the: said dies and adapted to be engaged by the saiddie'pl'ate to positively retain the said dies in adjusted position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI have signed'my name to this specification in the presence-of two'subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL 8.. SMITH.

Witnesses:

J 0s. P. LIVERMORE, B. J. NoYEs. 

